Alice Gorman
Dr. Alice Gorman is an internationally recognized leader in the field of space archaeology. She is an Associate Professor in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University, where she teaches the Archaeology of Modern Society.
Her research focuses on the archaeology and heritage of space exploration, including space junk, planetary landing sites, off-earth mining, rocket launch pads and antennas.
She is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Advisory Council of the Space Industry Association of Australia and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
Her book "Dr. Space Junk vs the Universe: Archaeology and the Future" (2019) won the Mark and Evette Moran NIB People's Choice Award for Non-Fiction and the John Mulvaney Book Prize, awarded by the Australian Archaeological Association. It was also shortlisted for the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and the Adelaide Festival Literary Awards.
Alice tweets as @drspacejunk and blogs at Space Age Archaeology.
Latest articles by Alice Gorman
Was it a good idea for humanity to go to space?
By Alice Gorman published
Six years after the first satellite was launched, editors from the Encyclopaedia Britannica posed a question to five eminent thinkers of the day: “Has man’s conquest of space increased or diminished his stature?”
Looking back from beyond the moon: How views from space have changed the way we see Earth
By Alice Gorman published
How does a stunning photo from Artemis 1 compare to other iconic views of Earth from the outside?
After 45 years, the 5-billion-year legacy of the Voyager 2 interstellar probe is just beginning
By Alice Gorman published
The iconic Voyager spacecraft seen through the eyes of an archaeologist.
Will NASA rename the James Webb Space Telescope? A space expert explains the Lavender Scare controversy.
By Alice Gorman published
In the excitement of the observatory's first images, it's easy to forget that the James Webb Space Telescope has been the subject of controversy.
A rogue rocket is on course to crash into the moon. It won't be the first.
By Alice Gorman published
Some astronomers say the collision is "not a big deal," but to a space archaeologist like me it's quite exciting.
Private space stations are coming. Will they be better than their predecessors?
By Justin St. P. Walsh, Alice Gorman published
A new era of space stations is about to kick off. NASA has announced three commercial space station proposals for development, joining an earlier proposal by Axiom Space.
From poo politics to rubbish disposal: 5 big questions about the International Space Station becoming a movie set
By Alice Gorman published
This is an exciting — if controversial — development for the station, which orbits around 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth.
Apes, robots and men: The life and death of the first space chimp
By Alice Gorman published
How to live in space: What we've learned from 20 years of the International Space Station
By Alice Gorman, Justin St. P. Walsh published
November 2 marks 20 years since the first residents arrived on the International Space Station (ISS).
Book Excerpt: 'Dr Space Junk vs the Universe' On How to Become a Space Archaeologist
By Alice Gorman last updated
In her new book, "Dr Space Junk vs the Universe," Alice Gorman explores an archaeological perspective on spaceflight. But how does one become a space archaeologist in the first place?
'First Man': A New Vision of the Apollo 11 Mission to Set Foot on the Moon
By Alice Gorman, Heather L. Robinson published
60 Years in Orbit for 'Grapefruit Satellite': The Oldest Human Object in Space
By Alice Gorman published
Curious Kids: How Do Satellites Get Back to Earth?
By Alice Gorman published
The short answer is that most satellites don't come back to Earth at all. Most of them burn to a crisp before they get anywhere near the ground.
In Conversation with Astronaut Chris Hadfield
By Alice Gorman published
Through the creative use of social media, he’s made space exciting and accessible to new generations of enthusiasts.
Dead or Alive, China's Yutu Rover Says Much About How We Relate to Robots (Op-Ed)
By Alice Gorman published
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